Road-cart



(No Model.)

0. L. MUENGH.

ROAD CART.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

0220 I, flfaeiz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO L. MUENCII, OF VASIIINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM T. IIAYDOCK, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,541, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed June 2, 1890. Serial No. 354,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO L. MUENCH, a citizen of the United States,residing in the town of Washington,in the county of Franklin, in theState of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRoad-Carts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to roadcarts; and it consists of the arrangementand combination to of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

My object is to provide against and eliminate the horse motion usual incarts in a simple, durable, and cheap manner. I attain this object bythe mechanism illustrated in I5 the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of a cart em bodying my improvement. Fig. 2is a perspective view of that part of the t-hillcontaining my invention.Fig. 3 is a transverse longitudinal section of the same, showing thethill at rest. Fig. 4c is the same section showing the thill depressedat the joint.

A is the front section of a thill of a roadcart, and B is the rearsection of the same.

a The joined ends of each member are cut on an angle, as shown, thepurpose being to thus form a stop against the downward thrust of themember A. The member L is provided with two side pieces of metal B and Bwhich pieces are rigidly secured to the part B on its respective sidesand are extended forward and parallel therewith. These two side piecesare joined at or near the front ends by a connecting-piece of metal Z).The purpose of this connection is to strengthen the side pieces 3 B andto furnisha stop to resist the too-far-downward thrust of the member A.These side pieces B and B are provided near their front ends with apivotal connection A, which in the drawings consists of an ordinary boltpassing through the metal pieces B I) tightly, so as not to movetherein, and loosely through the wooden. member A, so that all movementwill be confined to the bolt in the wooden member A, thus avoiding allnoise in the operation of the parts.

On top of the member A near the end is secured by bolts or otherwise astop a, having a jaw a bent up from a shoulder a and projecting beyondthe end of the member A and extending over the memberB, and adapted toengage the member B as the front free end of the member A moves up.

S is a spring secured to the bottom of the member B and extendingforward and approximately parallel with it and terminates in a free end8, which is adapted to engage the lower side of the rear end of themember A and to move thereon in action. The function of this spring isto resist the downward pressure of the rear end of the member A, andthus tend to keep the thill straight, but allow it to yield to themovement of the horse in action. The contact of the free end of thespring S with the wood portion of the thill, instead of being hung in astirrup, prevents any rattle or noise of the parts, which is a greatadvantage; also, by dispensing with the stirrup connection of the freeend of the spring with the thill I make a neat job and a joint that willnot engage the switch of the horse, as well as avoid noise.

d is another hole, provided for the insertion of a second bolt, whichcan be done if at any time it is desirable to make the thill rigid fromend to end, which is often desired when it is desired to carry anunbalanced load on the cart and retain it in its normal position. Thehole (I can also be used to change both, and thereby regulate tension ofspring S.

There are many advantages resulting from this form of construction ofthe joint of the thill over others. Itis cheap in construction, havingbut few parts. It is as strong as though the shaft were made in but onepiece, by reason of the side pieces. It is noiselessin its operation,having no metal working on metal or loose joints or link-connection. Itis readily disconnected in case of shipment, thus enabling themanufacturer to pack many more in a car than can be done with others.Its parts are all smooth and will not engage the switch of the horse.Its mode of operation is simple and needs no description of it.

Now, what I claim, and for which I ask Letters Patent of the UnitedStates to be granted to me, is-

1. In a road-cart, thethill consisting of two members, a front and arear member, two side pieces rigidly connected to the sides of the oneand embracing said sides and extending laterally along the sides of. theother member and pivotally connected thereto, said pieces beingconnected together at their pivotal ends, a stop arranged on said sidepieces, serving to arrest the movement of themembers on each other, aspring arranged on the under side of the members and rigidly connectedto that member to which said side pieces are rigidly connected at one ofits ends and having the other end free to act on the moving end of theother member, and a stop arranged on the end of that member which ispivotally connected to the side pieces and adapted to engage the end'ofthe member which is rigidly connected to said side pieces, substantiallyas above described, and for the purposes set forth.

other by the other end, substantially as de- 0 scribed, and for thepurposes set forth.

OTTO L. MUENCH.

Vitnesses:

H. P. KROG, P. F. KIERNAN.

